Design guidelines for female Muslim prayer facilities in public buildings

Purpose Practicing Muslims pray five times a day during specified periods. Hence, public buildings in many Muslim-majority countries tend to have prayer facilities. These facilities are typically gender-segregated. Unfortunately, for a long time, the main focus for the design of these facilities has been on the male facilities. As a result, many female users suffer from using facilities that are not safe, hygienic or comfortable. Part of the reason is the lack of guidelines that help designers provide a facility that satisfies the needs of female users. This paper aims to address this problem with a focus on prayer facilities that are in public buildings and not in mosques. Design/methodology/approach The paper offers design guidelines that are based on interviews with female users, analysis of well-designed female prayer facilities, observations of users' behavior, feedback from users on previously developed guidelines that are shared with male prayer facilities, and relevant religious rulings. Findings The guidelines address the location of the facility, the zoning and circulation and the design considerations for the prayer space, as well as the reception area and the ablution space. It also recommends a design for an ablution unit that better fits female users. Finally, the paper analyzes an existing design for a female prayer facility in a shopping mall and shows how a change in the design based on this paper's recommended guidelines can achieve better safety, hygiene and comfort for female users. Originality/value The paper focus is new and should trigger the discussion on this aspect of facilities design where needed.